The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-31
PLUNDERING THE PEOPLE.
Systematic Robbery of Scott County Tax
Payers-What Was Learned by an Inquiry.

Some time since Mr. Marion Powers, at the
request of committee of Scott county tax
PAYERS, began investigation into the fnan-
cial affairs of that county. The work has been
completed, and Mr.. Powers make the following
report
Having been selected by you to look into the
books and vouchers file in the county audi
my report; prefacng it with the statement that
IL would nave been much fuller but for the re-
fusal OF the auditor to allow an examination OF
all the books and vouchers called for.
have examined closely all the bills for books
and stationery that have been audited from 1866
to 1887. and find that the number of record
books paid for in that time exceeds the total
number of said books that have been furnished
the county since its organization in 1929 fifty
eight years. There is evidence of the fact that
many of the bills or parts of them have been
audited twice by erasing the dates. and some
of the items from the bills: iE this way passing
the inspection of the commissioners.
l also find that many expensive record books
have been paid for that are not in use or re-
quired in Scott county. comparison of the
prices paid for books aud stationery in the time
specified. and the prices paid during the war
shows bnt little variation; some articles are even
higher now In nv opinion the quantity Of
stationery actually furnished is far in excess OF
what is actually needed for the use of the
county. l also find, by an examination OF the
county order stubs. that some of the county
officers lave been getting commission of 10 to
20 per cent of the stationery bills allowed. In
been collision between the stationery firms
selling the goods. and the officials who have pur-
chased from them, by which the county has beer
defrauded of not less than So, 900 IN the twenty
two years From informal in my possession
l have reason to believe this system of fraud is
practiced largely throughout the State.
l find that the county has paid $27 for two
bond records, yet no such records are in the
courthouse. The only record of the issuance
of bonds which was able to find old
book which had been III use for other purposes
a being lYdi
in pencil The commissioners dockat shows
that an issuance of $23 200 in bonds has been
Much of that amount has been paid off and the
interest stopped long since, yet there is no rec
ord of the outstanding bonds, and no one seems
to know anything about them. To pay these
bonds and the interest on them tax OF 3.01
cents on the 500 of taxable property has been
levied and fully 80 per cent. of it has been col
lected, amounting to about 800 OOO l would
suggest that thorough accounting of that fund
be had. find q contract, and bond for this
performance Of the same, by Travis Carter q
Co.. to build and complete ready for occupancy
and in first-class workmanship and material.
courthouse and JAIL with fre-proof vaults in
four of the Offices in the court house,
all to be completed for the sum of $l3. 600.
find there are no ire-proof vaults; that the
workmanship is inferior, and that they have
been paid $4,000. Sc 600 more than the contract
price. without any shadow of authority other
than Section $50 of the Revised Statutes of 1881
which says that mo appeal shall lie from the
decsioni of board of commissioners making
allowances for services voluntarily rendered or
for things voluntarily furnished for the public
use.n / find that a county library OF ines
timable value educator has been taken
from the county without any warrant. and pre-
sented to Floyd county. I find that the fund
for the maintenance of said library has been
mostly ''gobbled up by law sharks, under the
thin disguise Of attorney fees"
The business OF the township trustees. with
some exceptions. has been conducted in a very
loose manner. reports of the number Of
GU tstanding notes or bon0s appearing in their
reports their records. Some of them
too prone to speculate their own account in
the purchase Of school supplies. ETC., the fol-
lowing bill, the original of which / have IN my
possession, will prove. aud it is only fair
average sam pie Of the way the entire business
Of the county is conducted:
CHICAGO, Dec. 16, 1885.
Trustee of - Township,
Bought of A. II. Andrews g. Co., per contract.
I 4 CoIored 1oraa S2Qg